While Covid-19 has devastated much of the world for nearly a year, the impact on children has been especially profound.  The need for kids to get out and engage in healthy activity is greater than ever. That's why, despite the never ending array of challenges, Geerz has successfully implemented our ambitious expansion plan of bringing Geerz to many new communities.  Kiryat Gat, Even Shmuel, Mevo Horon, and Hadera are just a few of the many new communities in which we have established new groups this year. Our enrollment stands at a record of 318 kids, with a number of additional groups currently being formed. As Geerz continues to transform young lives, the demand for our program continues to skyrocket. Our scalable model enables us to meet this increased demand. The only impediment is lack of funding.  If you would like to sponsor a new group or join with other families or community members to do so, please contact us at chaim@geerz.org.

Geerz focuses on areas in which kids suffer from physical and emotional insecurity, such as in the communities along the Gaza periphery. The revolutionary Geerz therapeutic mountain biking program, has proven to be remarkably effective in treating PTSD and other anxiety related disorders, even where conventional therapy has failed. 

Another major focus is youth villages and development towns. Kids who come from these areas, are more likley to develop problematic and anti-social behavior. The poverty in these towns, means that their families can't afford to give their kids the programming that they need. Geerz is a real game changer for these kids, and imbues them with self-confidence, responsibility, and heightened self-esteem that set them on the path to a better future.

Keeping your bike tires properly inflated is vital to safety on the trails, but it's not exciting and therefore kids often forget to do it.  Here is an example of how Geerz instructors use a story to illustrate the application of a biking safety rule to every day life.

Temper Control

Once upon a time there was a boy who was talented, creative, handsome, and bright.  He was a natural leader and the kind of person everyone would normally have wanted on their team.  His problem was that he was self-centered and had a terrible temper. When he got angry, he would say and do very hurtful things.  He seemed to have little regard for those around him.  His few friends pointed out to him these undesirable character traits.  "But," he told himself, "that just shows how stupid most people are!"

As he grew, his parents became concerned about this personality flaw, and pondered long and hard about what they should do. Finally, the father had an idea and he struck a bargain with his son. He gave him a bag of nails, and a BIG hammer. "Whenever you lose your temper," he told the boy, "I want you to really let it out. Just take a nail and drive it into the oak boards of that old fence out back. Hit that nail as hard as you can!"

Of course, those weathered oak boards in that old fence were almost as tough as iron, and the hammer was mighty heavy, so it wasn’t nearly as easy as it first sounded. Nevertheless, by the end of the first day, the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. (That was one angry young man!) Gradually, over a period of weeks, the number dwindled down. Holding his temper proved to be easier than driving nails into the fence! Finally, the day came when the boy didn’t lose his temper at all. He felt mighty proud as he told his parents about that accomplishment.

"As a sign of your success," his father responded, "you get to PULL OUT one nail. In fact, you can do that each day that you don’t lose your temper even once."

Well, many weeks passed. Finally, one day the young boy was able to report proudly that all the nails were gone.

At that point, the father asked his son to walk out back with him and take one good look at the fence. "You have done well, my son," he said. "But I want you to notice the holes that are left. No matter what happens from now on, this fence will never be the same. Saying or doing hurtful things in anger produces the same kind of result. There will always be a scar. It won’t matter how many times you say you’re sorry, or how many years pass, the scar will still be there. And a verbal wound is as bad as a physical one. People are much more valuable than an old fence. They make us smile. They help us succeed. Some will even become friends who share our joys, and support us through bad times. And, if they trust us, they will also open their hearts to us. That means we need to treat everyone with love and respect. We need to prevent as many of those scars as we can."

Lesson: A most valuable lesson, and a reminder most of us need from time to time. Everyone gets angry occasionally. The real test is what we DO with it.

Connection: Anger is very similar to having too much air in a tire. If there is too much, and it doesn’t have a way out, the tire will explode.  If you are angry and you let it build up, and you don’t have a healthy way to deal with it, you will explode.  On the other hand, if you have too little air in a tire, and it is flat, then it will be very difficult to ride, and you may damage your wheel.  If, in life, you do not let anything bother you, and you do not care about anything, then you will too be flat and your life will lack inspiration and achievement.

"I so badly wanted Geerz for my son. I read about the confidence mountain biking gives boys with ADHD who are often branded as “bad" and “troublemakers” in school.  Geerz curriculum adds life skills and social skills. It is also a physical outlet and creates a sense of happiness, freedom and accomplishment that the boys gain. When I told the therapist who recommended Geerz that we could not afford it, she told me about the scholarship opportunities.  It has been so physically and emotionally therapeutic for him and the school describes my son as a different boy this year.  He is happier, we are happier, our house is happier."

On November 8th-10th, Geerz held its 4th annual Get Into Geerz, two-day charity bike ride and it was a huge success. Despite the many challenges presented by the ongoing health crisis which required us to make Covid-related adjustments almost daily in the weeks leading up to the ride, the number of riders more than doubled. Sixty five riders, who originally hailed from the US, UK, South Africa, Switzerland, Australia, and Israel came together and collectively rode over 5,000 kilometers and climbed over 100,000 meters of some of the most magnificent trails in the Holy Land. It was truly a celebration of life, Zionism, friendship, and kindness.  

The first day of the ride took place in the breathtaking vistas of Zichron Ya'akov, where we enjoyed stunning trails and thrilling single track riding in Northern Israel. The riding day ended in Ofer Forest with cold beer and a sumptuous barbecue. Many riders camped out in the forest that night and shared an unforgettable evening of music and bonding around the campfire. The second day launched in the rugged mountains of Park Canada, and concluded in the biking mecca of Ben Shemen Forest. The riders finished triumphantly and were greeted with a street food feast at the finish line. There were five professionally guided routes to accommodate every riding level. The riders had an incredible time, made all the more special by the timing and the improbability of having the ride at all. 

Most importantly, together the riders raised over $500,000 to put kids throughout Israel into the revolutionary Geerz therapeutic mountain biking program. Due to the ride’s success, we are now less then $100,000 short of meeting our $600,000 annual goal which will fund Geerz’s ambitious expansion into the many additional towns that have asked for our services.

Thanks to the generosity of our riders and supporters, Geerz will purchase bikes, gloves, helmets, hydration packs, and put more kids on the trails. Geerz will teach these kids essential life skills through the magic of mountain biking with its incredibly dedicated staff and a highly customized curriculum.

We have already announced that the GIG 2021 ride will take place on May 2nd-4th and we look forward to an even bigger and better ride. 

Please click here to join us and bring a friend.